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Information on Minnesota State Agencies, Boards, Task Forces, and Commissions

Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library


Blind/Visually Impaired Advisory Committee

Also known as:
Minnesota Resource Center Advisory Committee: Blind/Visually Impaired
Active dates:1987 -
Function: The purpose of the blind-visually impaired (BVI) advisory committee is twofold. One role is to provide specific advice and counsel to the Minnesota Resource Center regarding needs to improve learning results for students who are BVI, priorities for action, technical issues in the education of students who are BVI, and general operations of the Center. Their other role is to provide general advice and counsel to the Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) and the Office of Special Education in the Minnesota Department of Education regarding general procedures for assuring address of the needs of students who are BVI within the context of the entire special education program rules, priorities, procedures, and funding.

The advisory committee will submit an annual report to the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and share information with the MDE Special Education Advisory Panel. The committee will also review and approve Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Educational Professionals (ACVREP) Registered Provider of Professional Learning and Education (RPPLE) requests. Lastly, the committee reviews and approves BVI resource materials recommended for the Minnesota Resource Libraries.
History: The Blind-Visually Impaired (BVI) Advisory Committee was reviewed by the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy (LCPFP) in 2013 as part of their biennial duty required by Minn. Stat. 3.885 Subd. 11. The LCPFP's 2013 Recommendations called for keeping the committee.
Membership: In the past, the committee consisted of 13 to 15 members including: four parents of children who are BVI; four teachers with license in Visual Impairment serving students; one related service staff person employed to work with students who are BVI; one representative of an Institute of Higher Learning that prepares teachers to work with students who are BVI; two special education directors, coordinators, or supervisors; and one or two people from another state agency or non-profit agency that has a mission that includes services to children birth to 21 who are BVI.

As of December 2015 (though it is unclear when the change occurred), the committee consisted of 10 to 12 members including: one or two parents of children who are BVI; one or two teachers with license in Visual Impairment serving students; one related service staff person employed to work with students who are BVI; one representative of an Institute of Higher Education that prepares teachers to work with students who are BVI; one or two special education directors, coordinators, or supervisors; two to three people from another state agency or nonprofit agency that has a mission that includes services to children birth to 21 who are BVI; and one student who is BVI.

In October 2016, the committee membership consisted of 8 to 10 members including: one or two parents of children who are BVI; one or two teachers with license in visual impairment serving students; one related service staff person employed to work with students who are BVI; one representative of an institute of higher education that prepares teachers to work with students who are BVI; one or two special education directors, coordinators, or supervisors; two to three people from another state agency or nonprofit agency that has a mission that includes services to children birth to 21 who are BVI; and one student
who is BVI.

Entries for this agency in the Annual Compilation and Statistical Report of Multi-Member Agencies Report: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003.

Note: This report provides membership details as well as meeting information and a summary of the group's activities.

Note: The Legislative Reference Library may have additional reports on or by this group available through our catalog.
Record last updated: 10/26/2016
 

All information on this group from the Library’s collection of agency notebooks has been digitized. These materials are incorporated into the “documents/articles” section of the record. Please contact a librarian with any questions. The Minnesota Agencies database is a work in progress.

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